These are Texas' biggest gang threats

Above: These weapons were seized from members of the Texas Syndicate during an 18-month investigation. The probe led to 18 people being indicted.

Photo By .

Tango Blast and Tango Cliques

Tier 1 Threat

DPS: Tango Blast and Tango cliques are located in many major
cities across Texas. Tango Blast first developed as a self-protection
group against more established prison gangs, such as Texas Mexican
Mafia and Texas Syndicate. The gang has grown rapidly and boasts
the highest membership numbers among prison gangs in Texas. Due
to the rapid growth of Tango Blast and Tango cliques, as well as its
high level of criminal activity, propensity for violence and
relationships with Mexican cartels, the gang poses a significant threat
to Texas.

Above: A Tango Blast tattoo.

Texas Syndicate

Tier 1 Threat

DPS: Texas Syndicate (TS) is a violent prison gang that originated
in the California penal system over 40 years ago. Texas Syndicate
moved into Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) prisons and
onto the streets, often working with Mexican cartels such as Los
Zetas. Recent law enforcement investigations targeting the gang have
resulted in the arrest of high-ranking members, dismantling top
leadership positions within each of TS’s regional hierarchies. Texas
Syndicate remains a resilient criminal threat to Texas.

Above: This undated picture, introduced as evidence at the trial of former Texas Syndicate Laredo sillon, or chairman, Tomas "Tom Cat" Barrera, 41, shows Jorge "La Mona" Gomez, who was identified during the 2009 trial as a Zeta cartel operative who police believe has since died, and Texas Syndicate member Juan Manuel "Pugs" Marquez Rodriguez, 31. Marquez pleaded guilty to two murders he'd been hired to take part in by the Zetas and is serving a 20-year prison sentence.

Photo By Courtesy Texas Department of Public Safety

Texas Mexican Mafia

Tier 1 Threat

DPS: Despite having its threat level downgraded in 2012 because of
significant law enforcement targeting, Texas Mexican Mafia (TMM)
has upheld its membership size, commitment to prosper from the sale
and distribution of firearms and illicit drugs, and involvement in
violent crimes. TMM will likely continue to remain organizationally
effective and engage in criminal activity.

DPS: Barrio Azteca (BA) has lost much of its support in the last
year due to the deteriorating influence of the Juarez Cartel. In
addition, law enforcement efforts have been successful in targeting
the gang. Although predominantly located in El Paso and Juarez,
Chihuahua, Mexico, arrests of BA members have been active in
Wichita Falls and Houston.

Above: Jesus Ernesto Chavez Castillo aka "El Camello", who is suspected of ordering the assassination of a U.S. Consulate worker in Ciudad Ju?rez and at least one other deadly attack in Mexico's bloody drug war, appeared in the courtroom of U.S. Magistrate Judge John Primomo for a closed-door hearing that took about 40 minutes. A member of "Los Aztecas," or the Barrio Azteca gang of El Paso, he told authorities he was ordered to arrange the killing by gang members. The gang operates in both border cities.

Photo By www.bexar.org/da/

Latin Kings

Tier Threat 2

DPS: The Latin Kings is a violent street gang that originated in
Chicago, Illinois in the early 1960s. Originally created to overcome
racial prejudice, the gang soon became a criminal force. The gang
migrated into Texas shortly after its creation, and began to open local
chapters. Due to its interstate structure and criminal growth, Latin
Kings has increased its threat to the state of Texas.

Above: A common Latin Kings tattoo.

Photo By Michael Johnson

Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)

Tier 1 Threat

DPS: Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) is the best known transnational
street gang in the world, with ongoing command, control and
coordination between gang leaders and cliques in different countries.
MS-13 remains a constant threat to the state of Texas through its use
of violence and disregard of law enforcement.

Above: A common tattoo among members of MS-13.

Photo By Brant Ward

Surenos

Tier 2 Threat

DPS: The Sureños originated as a gang confederation closely
aligned under the umbrella of the California Mexican Mafia. As such,
they often utilize the number 13 as a sign of respect to the California
Mexican Mafia (the letter M being the 13th letter in the alphabet).
Although many gangs in Texas may use the Sureños name, not all of
them are affiliated with the California-based confederation. We assess
that Sureños will strive to establish a stronger presence in Texas in the
near future.

Above: A young member of Surenos is handcuffed for defacing a public building with graffiti.

Photo By Bexar County Sheriff’s Office

Bloods

Tier 2 Threat

DPS: The Bloods are a violent street gang that originated in Los Angeles, California in the the early 1970s, with ties to People-Nation-affiliated gangs. The gang originally developed as an offshoot clique of the Crips gang. The Bloods' presence in Texas has been documented sing the 1980s. Multiple cities in Texas have instituted gang injunctions against the Bloods and their rivals, the Crips. The Bloods' overall presence, the level of their criminal activity, and the violence perpetrated by its members qualify them as a serious threat in Texas.

Above: Alleged Bloods gang member Terrance Clemons was arrested for alleged burglary of a habitation.

Photo By U.S. Department of Justice

Aryan Brotherhood of Texas

Tier 2 Threat

DPS: The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT) was formed as a white supremacist prison gang, but places its racist ideology secondary to its everyday criminal activities. Aryan Brotherhood of Texas is not considered a threat to the border areas of Texas, but threatens Texas internally because of its involvement in violent crimes, the methamphetamine business, and frequent property crimes. Multi-agency investigations have seriously affected ABT’s leadership structure and effectiveness.

Above: Steven Walter Cooke, a general in the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas. The undated photos are courtesy of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and have never before been published. They were found on a phone that was captured by law-enforcement authorities and used to prosecute Cooke, a Tomball resident.

Photo By LUCY NICHOLSON

Crips

Tier 2 Threat

DPS: The Crips is a criminal street gang founded in Los Angeles,
California in the late 1960s with ties to Folk-Nation-affiliated gangs.
The name “Crips” does not define a single gang, but rather an identity
with which many gang cliques associate themselves. Crips gangs
have maintained a documented presence in Texas since the mid-
1980s. Crips’ criminal activities continue to threaten the larger
metropolitan areas of Texas. Multiple cities in Texas have instituted
gang injunctions against the Crips and their rivals, the Bloods.

Above: A mourner wears a Crips gang shirt as he sits in a pew at Bethel A.M.E. church during the funeral of Stanley Tookie Williams in Los Angeles December 20, 2005.

Photo By JOERGEN JESSEN/.

Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang

Tier 2 Threat

DPS: Formed in the 1960s, the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang
(Bandidos OMG) conducts its illegal activities as covertly as possible
and avoids high-profile activities such as drive-by shootings that
many street gangs tend to commit. However, members are not covert
about making their presence known by wearing the gang colors,
insignia, and riding in large groups. They seek to turn public
sentiment in their favor by organizing frequent charity runs.
Bandidos are likely to focus on recruiting new members with no
criminal history.

Above: European, Australian and U.S. members of the Houston, Texas-led Bandidos gang on way Wednesday, March 20,1996, to the funeral of their Danish comrade Uffe Larsen at the church in the village Stenloese 35 kilometers northwest of Copenhagen.

Photo By Texas Department of Public Safety

Partido Revolucionario Mexicano

Tier 2 Threat

DPS: Partido Revolucionario Mexicano (PRM) is an organized and
secretive prison gang that operates in Mexico and Texas. Partido
Revolucionario Mexicano is composed mainly of Mexican nationals,
many of whom are illegal aliens and who are subsequently deported
once they are released from prison; this allows the PRM to establish
cells on both sides of the border. Partido Revolucionario Mexicano
members who are deported often re-enter the United States and
establish themselves as members in Texas. Partido Revolucionario
Mexicano allows U.S. citizens to become members of the gang in
order to maintain their presence in Texas and eliminate the possibility
of deportation.

Above: Alleged gang member Daniel Carillo was wanted by officials for failure to register as a sex offender and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Photo By DPS Texas Ganag Assessment 2014/DPS

Texas Chicano Brotherhood (no photo available)

Tier 2 Threat

DPS: The Texas Chicano Brotherhood (TxCB) emerged in Hidalgo, Texas after its two founding members defected from the Tri-City Bombers. The prison gang follows the traditional philosophy of “blood in, blood out” membership, common with other prison gangs. Historically, TxCB recruited its members in prison; however, the gang has been forced to recruit members from the street after established prison gangs prohibited them from recruiting in the prison system.

Photo By DPS Texas Gang Assessment 2014/DPS

The largest concentration of Texas gang activity is predictably in the urban areas, but pockets of the sparsely-populated West Texas also show high concentrations.

The Department of Public Safety has released its annual Texas Gang Threat Assessment, which highlights the activity and largest threats among the state's many criminal groups.